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New life for 10 old Over-the-Rhine properties

<p>The fire escape on this building at 100 E. McMicken Ave. had been a serious concern for Cincinnati building inspectors. The building is part of 2414 Morgan Development's portfolio. Photo taken April 27, 2016.</p>

CINCINNATI — An out-of-town developer has made enough repairs to retain control of 10 historic properties in Over-the-Rhine that Cincinnati building inspectors once considered potential death traps for first responders.

An eleventh building in Avondale remains in violation of city building codes, but Washington, D.C.-based 2414 Morgan Development, LLC, is seeking to sell that property.

3585 Bogart St. in Avondale

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Jerome Metz in December declared seven of the buildings in Over-the-Rhine and the one in Avondale "public nuisances," which paved the way for the city to seize control of the properties if the owner didn't make extensive improvements by March 15.

But 2414 Morgan Development made enough repairs to its Over-the-Rhine properties that appointing a receiver "is not on the table" for those buildings, city attorney Jessica Powell said in an email to WCPO.

"If issues arose at any of the properties in the future and weren't timely brought into compliance," she wrote, "we would consider seeking a receiver."

George Musekamp, a lawyer with Thomson Hine LLP who is representing 2414 Morgan Development, said in an email that his client "remains dedicated to revitalizing its OTR properties."

Ten of the structures are located north of Liberty Street in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, and several are near the Cincinnati Streetcar route.

WCPO first reported on the deterioration of the group of vacant buildings in May 2014. City officials argued that the rotting buildings contribute to neighborhood blight, pose a hazard to the public and could be death traps for firefighters.

112 Corwine St. in Over-the-Rhine

The company made repairs to several of the buildings before Metz personally inspected the properties in early December. City building inspectors determined that three of the buildings had met the city's standards, and city lawyers withdrew them from the city's request to have all the properties declared public nuisances.

Those three are located at 1624 Pleasant St., 201 E. Clifton Ave. and 1613 Walnut St.

The remaining eight properties were the focus of Metz's order.

They are located at:

• 100 E. McMicken Ave.

• 1614 Walnut St.

• 20 Findlay St.

• 22 Findlay St.

• 118 Findlay St.

• 1618 Walnut St.

• 112 Corwine St.

• 3585 Bogart St. in Avondale

Under the terms of Metz's December court order, 2414 Morgan Development had until March 15 to make repairs that the city requires to issue so-called "Vacant Building Maintenance Licenses." The city's vacant building maintenance licenses ordinance requires the owners of vacant properties to make sure their buildings are barricaded, so that trespassers can't enter them, and stabilized so they are safe for first responders and so pieces of the structures don't fall into the street or onto people below.

'I'm Going to Make a Difference'

The deal was that if the developer met that deadline and building inspectors agreed that the structures met the city's standards, the properties would no longer be declared public nuisances.

But if the buildings didn't meet those standards, Metz could immediately appoint a receiver — a person or organization to stabilize the properties and bring them up to the city's standards.

20 Findlay St. and 22 Findlay St. in Over-the-Rhine.

The owner of the properties has been fighting to maintain control.

Executives with 2414 Morgan Development said in November that the properties were works in progress that could meet the city's building code requirements with fewer than 45 days of work.

"It's not greed that brought me to Cincinnati but my faith and my passion to help others," Nigel Parkinson, a partner in 2414 Morgan Development, testified in November. "That's what brought me to Cincinnati, and I think I'm going to make a difference."

100 E. McMicken St. in Over-the-Rhine

The city is pursuing other claims against 2414 Morgan Development, too. The city is seeking more than $160,000 in fines and fees from the company, city attorney Jacklyn Gonzales Martin told WCPO in an email.

That total would cover the vacant building maintenance license fees, civil fines and abatement costs that the city says the company owes.

Musekamp said 2414 Morgan Development is "attempting to work with the city to resolve the outstanding fines and fees."

Both sides are scheduled to report back to Metz on May 19. A trial on the fines and fees is scheduled for October.

Lucy May writes about the people, places and issues that define our region – to celebrate what makes the Tri-State great and also shine a spotlight on issues we need to address. To read more stories by Lucy, go to www.wcpo.com/may. To reach her, email lucy.may@wcpo.com. Follow her on Twitter @LucyMayCincy.